Voyager 5x22 "Someone to Watch Over Me"

rating: ***

the story: The Doctor develops feelings for Seven while teaching her about relationships.

what it's all about: At least it's better than "In Theory."  That's the Next Generation episode Data finds himself in a relationship, but bungles it when his response is to build a subroutine to fake his way through it.

Some fans swear by "Someone to Watch Over Me."  It's the Pygmalion episode, one of those classic stories that seem endlessly adaptable, and the whole unrequited love ending that's so heartbreaking for the Doctor (he ain't seen nothing yet; even by the final episode of the series, "Endgame," he's had to settle for a stand-in years later, in the aborted future, while in the present it's Chakotay who finally convinces Seven to give love a chance).

The subplot about ambassadors behaving badly has been done before in the franchise, so that's there.  Take it for what it is, that kind of material.

Softening Seven was a running element of the series since she made her debut the previous season, but certainly this is one of the more concerted efforts, one where she's actually allowed to interact with others on a level that has nothing to do with having once been a Borg, but the mere fact of her inexperience, which explores an entirely different aspect of the character. 

And yes, the Doctor is the one, ironically, giving her advice.  That's actually the best part of the episode, seeing how far he's come in a half dozen years or so, how eager he's been to expand his horizons.  I think that, more than anything, is what fascinates him about Seven, what attracts him to her.  She reminds him of his own journey.  The fact that she doesn't, or can't, reciprocate is a painful reminder of that lonely journey he's really on.  And that may actually be the meaning behind the title.

criteria analysis:

• franchise - Casual fans will marvel over the character dynamics in this one.
• series - If I dock the episode anywhere, it's here.  It's painful for both the Doctor and the audience that he's being rejected in such an offhand manner, since we know better than Seven does just how much that means. 
• character - Wonderful as a spotlight for both the Doctor and Seven.
• essential - It's that heartbreak that makes the episode so fascinating, I think.  Sometimes it needs reminding that not every story has a happy ending.

notable guest-stars:
Ian Abercrombie